PRP vs Cortisone for Joint Pain in Gilbert, AZ: What the Evidence Shows
Short Answer
- PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections use your own concentrated blood platelets to support tissue repair in damaged joints, tendons, and ligaments, while cortisone injections use a synthetic steroid to temporarily suppress inflammation and pain.
- For conditions like knee osteoarthritis, published research suggests PRP provides better pain relief and function at 6 to 12 months compared to cortisone, which typically fades within weeks to a few months.
- Our patient outcome registry shows most patients experience meaningful pain relief that continues improving over time rather than fading the way repeated steroid shots do, though individual results may vary.
Getting a precise, tissue-level diagnosis and a properly dosed PRP preparation are the two factors that separate a treatment approach built to outlast cortisone from one more injection that fades in a few months, and that is where our evaluation begins.
Adults in Gilbert, Chandler, and Mesa who come to us looking for a non-surgical PRP alternative for chronic pain in a knee, shoulder, spine, or another joint or tendon have usually been through a steroid shot that helped for a few weeks, pain that returned, and then another injection. Many arrive after searching for a "PRP shot" or "platelet-rich plasma shots" without a clear answer on how PRP actually differs from the cortisone they have already tried.
If you have been through that cycle, you already know how it goes: physical therapy and medications took the edge off, a cortisone shot helped for a while, then wore off faster with each repeat injection, and now you are wondering whether another steroid shot or surgery is the only option left. But once we identify the specific tissue generating the pain and use ultrasound-guided PRP injections as part of a long-term plan, pain and function usually improve without relying on repeat steroid injections.
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections at Regenerative Performance use your own concentrated blood platelets, prepared to a measured and tested dose, to support tissue repair in damaged joints, tendons, and ligaments. Delivered under ultrasound and/or fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance at our Gilbert, AZ clinic, PRP is used as a longer-term alternative for patients who want to move beyond repeat cortisone injections. We start with a tissue-level diagnosis before treatment and confirm the platelet dose of every sample, rather than delivering a generic injection into the joint space. PRP does not work for every patient, and results depend on accurate diagnosis, an adequate dose, and the specific condition being treated.
Find out which structures are actually driving your joint pain, and whether PRP could help you move past the cortisone cycle.
Schedule a 2-hour evaluation for your chronic joint, tendon, or spine pain at our Gilbert, AZ clinic (also serving Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek, and the greater Phoenix area).
We limit how many new regenerative patients we accept each month to devote sufficient time and attention to each case.
Many of our joint pain patients travel from across the Phoenix East Valley after months or years of repeat cortisone injections. In our outcome registry, more than 3 out of 4 patients achieve clinically meaningful pain relief after properly dosed, image-guided treatment grounded in a tissue-level diagnosis.
Key Facts About PRP vs Cortisone for Joint Pain
Here is what you need to know about PRP vs cortisone before deciding which fits your situation.
- What PRP is: A concentrated preparation of your own platelets, drawn from your blood and injected into the painful joint or tendon to deliver growth factors that support the body's repair process.
- What cortisone is: A synthetic corticosteroid medication injected into a joint or around a tendon; it may temporarily suppress inflammation and reduce pain for a limited window.
- Who PRP helps: Adults with chronic joint, tendon, nerve, or spine pain (3 or more months), whether in the knee, shoulder, hip, ankle, or elsewhere, who have tried physical therapy, chiropractic care, or cortisone injections without lasting improvement and want a non-surgical, non-steroid option.
- How PRP works: Platelets release growth factors and signaling proteins that research suggests modulate inflammation and support cartilage, tendon, and ligament health. All injections at our clinic are placed under ultrasound or fluoroscopy guidance for precision.
- Key difference: Cortisone typically provides faster relief (days to weeks) but fades within weeks to months. PRP has a slower onset but many patients maintain meaningful improvement for 6 to 12 months or longer. Individual results may vary.
- Where it is done: Regenerative Performance, Gilbert, AZ, serving patients across Chandler, Mesa, and the greater Phoenix area.
- Next step: Call 480-508-4226 to schedule a 2-hour evaluation for chronic joint, tendon, or spine pain in Gilbert, AZ.
PRP vs Cortisone in Gilbert, AZ: Quick Decision Guide
- If your priority is fast relief for a short-term flare and you want to use your insurance, a cortisone injection at an in-network orthopedic or pain management clinic may be the practical choice.
- If your pain keeps coming back after steroid injections and you are thinking 6 to 12 months ahead, a tissue-level diagnosis followed by properly dosed PRP is usually the better fit.
- Want to know exactly which structures are driving your pain before committing to any injection? Start with the 2-hour evaluation at our Gilbert, AZ clinic. Call 480-508-4226 or work with us.
How Do Cortisone Injections Work?
A "cortisone shot" is an injection of a corticosteroid medication, a synthetic version of hormones your body produces naturally, delivered where the pain is coming from: into a painful joint, or around a tendon or an irritated spinal nerve.
Corticosteroids work by strongly suppressing inflammatory pathways. They temporarily reduce the production of inflammatory chemicals that drive pain and swelling, often providing noticeable relief within days to a couple of weeks. Think of cortisone as a powerful "mute button" on inflammation.
The relief is real, but it is temporary: cortisone suppresses the inflammation that drives the pain, but it does not repair damaged tissue.
Why Does Regenerative Performance Almost Never Use Cortisone?
Cortisone has a legitimate role in medicine, but Regenerative Performance deliberately treats it as a narrow, short-term tool rather than a long-term plan for chronic pain.
The relief is often brief, with most patients improving for weeks to a few months before symptoms return, and repeated cortisone injections in the same area have been associated with cartilage thinning in joints and weakened tendon tissue over time. And suppression is not repair: when the medication wears off, the underlying tissue problem is still there.
Clinical finding
In a randomized trial published in JAMA (McAlindon et al., JAMA, 2017), patients with knee osteoarthritis who received cortisone injections every three months for two years lost significantly more cartilage than those receiving saline injections, with no significant difference in knee pain.
This is about our clinical philosophy rather than a criticism of cortisone itself. We see patients who specifically want to move past the steroid cycle and explore options that work with their biology, not against it.
A Note About Our Clinic Model
We are a cash-pay, out-of-network clinic. We are not contracted with insurance companies, and we almost never perform cortisone injections. If someone's main goal is to get a quick steroid shot billed to insurance, they are usually better served at a conventional orthopedic or pain management office that is in their insurance network.
Our clinic is built for patients who specifically want to avoid further steroid injections and explore regenerative and orthobiologic options instead.
See whether a tissue-level diagnosis and PRP could help you move past the cortisone cycle for good.
What Is PRP and How Is It Different from Cortisone?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is made from your own blood. The process involves three steps: your blood is drawn, it is spun in a centrifuge so the platelets become concentrated in the plasma, and the platelet-rich portion is collected and injected into the painful joint, tendon, or supporting structures under image guidance.
Platelets store growth factors and signaling proteins that your body may draw on when repairing injured tissue. PRP delivers a higher-than-normal dose of these signals directly to the area that hurts. Research suggests PRP modulates inflammation (shifting it toward a calmer, resolving pattern instead of completely blocking it), supports cartilage, tendon, and ligament cell health, influences the joint fluid environment, and may alter pain-sensitizing signals from local nerves.
PRP is not instant. It sends a targeted repair message into the joint or tendon, and the biology takes time to respond. Many patients begin to notice changes within about 4 weeks, with most of the improvement usually occurring over the first 3 months, and some continuing to improve for 6 to 9 months. Individual results may vary.
Compliance note: In the United States, PRP for joint and tendon conditions is typically an off-label use of devices cleared to prepare platelet concentrates, not an FDA-approved treatment for any specific condition. We use it as a cash-pay option after conservative care has not helped, and results vary from person to person.
Why Do PRP Results Differ So Much Between Clinics?
PRP results differ between clinics for three main reasons: the quality of the physical exam and the diagnosis of which structures are actually generating the pain, whether enough blood is drawn to reach a therapeutic platelet dose and that dose is actually measured, and whether the injection is placed under image guidance. The last two are variables most patients are never told about.
Exam and diagnosis. The single most important driver of PRP outcomes is whether the structures generating your pain have been correctly identified in the first place. A detailed history, a hands-on physical exam, and diagnostic ultrasound when indicated determine what actually gets treated, and treating the wrong structure is the most common reason any injection fails.
Blood volume and dose measurement. Many clinics draw 60 mL or less of blood for PRP. At Regenerative Performance, we typically draw 120 to 300 mL so we can reach therapeutic platelet doses more reliably.
A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis identified a dose-response relationship for PRP in knee osteoarthritis, pinpointing an optimal threshold above 10 billion platelets for favorable clinical outcomes (Berrigan et al., Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine, 2024), which is part of why we prioritize a measured, adequate dose rather than drawing the volume recommended by the standard commercial PRP kits.
Volume alone is not the whole story: many clinics never actually measure how concentrated their PRP is. We analyze our PRP to confirm platelet concentration rather than guessing. This is an important differentiator because PRP that looks the same in the syringe can vary dramatically in therapeutic dose.
Image guidance. We combine measured dosing with ultrasound and/or fluoroscopy (X-ray) guidance to accurately target the specific structures contributing to your pain. Instead of placing a single injection into the joint space and hoping it covers everything, we use ultrasound to inject PRP into each structure that is actually painful, the joint, ligaments, and tendons, and around any irritated nerves.
How Do PRP and Cortisone Results Compare Over Time?
Cortisone provides faster relief in the first few weeks, but PRP results tend to match or exceed cortisone's pain relief and function by 6 to 12 months in most published studies.
Short-Term (First 4 to 6 Weeks)
Cortisone often gives faster relief in the first weeks. Many people feel clearly better within days. PRP often causes a few days of increased soreness because it is intentionally stimulating a biologic response. Early changes are usually slower and subtler.
If the only question is "What will make this hurt less in the next two weeks?", cortisone often wins that narrow contest.
Medium to Long-Term (3 to 12+ Months)
For conditions like knee osteoarthritis and chronic tendon problems, the picture shifts. Multiple randomized controlled trials of PRP for knee osteoarthritis suggest significantly better pain relief and functional improvement compared with corticosteroid injections at the 6 to 12 month mark, including a randomized controlled trial that suggests a single PRP injection produces statistically significant pain relief over corticosteroid at 1-year follow-up in patients with moderate knee osteoarthritis (Elksniņš-Finogejevs et al., Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, 2020). Steroid benefits tend to fade by a few months, and by 6 to 12 months many patients are back near their baseline pain level.
PRP is often associated with equal or better pain and function at 3 to 6 months, with many patients maintaining benefit out to 12 months. PRP does not work for everyone, but its time-course tends to match long-term goals better than frequent steroid shots in the right candidates.
Outcome Snapshot
These outcomes come from our patient outcome registry, powered by DataBiologics. Registry data updated July 2026.
- Across every body part we treat, more than three out of four patients (77%) in our registry achieve clinically meaningful pain relief after treatment.
- Pain continues improving rather than fading: the average patient reports a 45% pain reduction at 12 months, increasing to 59% at 18 months, a contrast with cortisone, where each repeat injection tends to provide less relief for a shorter duration.
- Among the cases with completed safety follow-up in our registry, zero severe treatment-related adverse events have been reported.
PRP vs Cortisone Comparison
| Feature | PRP | Cortisone |
|---|---|---|
| Onset of relief | Slower (weeks to months) | Faster (days to weeks) |
| Duration of benefit | Months to a year or longer | Weeks to a few months |
| Insurance coverage | Usually not covered | Usually covered |
| Tissue repair | Supports the body's repair biology | Does not repair tissue |
| Repeated use concerns | No known concerns | Potential cartilage and tendon damage |
| Source material | Your own blood | Synthetic steroid medication |
| Significant pain relief in our registry | 77% of patients (all tracked cases) | Not applicable (we almost never use cortisone) |
Next Step: The 2-Hour Joint Pain Evaluation in Gilbert, AZ
One visit, built to determine whether PRP is the right fit for your specific joint. You get:
- A hands-on, tissue-level exam that reproduces your pain to pinpoint exactly which structures are causing it
- Diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound, when indicated, to assess tissue structure
- A clear plan, whether that is physical therapy, PRP, another orthobiologic option, or a referral if that is the right call
- A straight answer if PRP is not likely to help you
Does PRP Work Better Than Cortisone for Knee Pain?
PRP tends to outperform cortisone for knee osteoarthritis, the gradual wearing down of cartilage in the knee joint, and for chronic knee pain over the medium and long term (6 to 12 months), while cortisone still wins the first few weeks. The two options serve different purposes.
Cortisone is often covered by insurance and can reduce pain and swelling quickly. It is useful for short-term flares when rapid relief is the overriding concern. But relief is usually temporary. Over-reliance on repeated injections raises concern about joint structure over time. In a randomized clinical trial, patients receiving cortisone every three months for two years lost significantly more cartilage than those receiving saline injections (McAlindon et al., JAMA, 2017).
PRP has a slower onset, with most responders noticing meaningful change over weeks to months, not days. In multiple randomized controlled trials, PRP provides better sustained pain and function at 6 to 12 months compared to steroids for mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, with many patients reporting clinically meaningful improvement out to one year.
For the kind of person we see often, someone who has tried therapy and lifestyle changes, wants to avoid more steroid injections, and is thinking 1 to 5 years ahead, PRP is usually the better fit for their long-term knee goals than another cortisone shot.
Learn more about our PRP injections for chronic joint pain in Gilbert, AZ.
Does PRP Work Better Than Cortisone for Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain follows the same pattern as the knee: for rotator cuff tendinopathy, degenerative change and micro-damage in the tendons that stabilize the shoulder, and for certain partial-thickness rotator cuff tears, PRP tends to deliver better pain relief and function at 6 to 12 months, while cortisone acts faster but fades.
Cortisone often improves shoulder pain quickly but does not restore tendon structure. Repeated steroid injections near tendons raise concern about tendon strength over time. Research on PRP for rotator cuff tendinopathy indicates better pain relief and functional scores at 6 to 12 months compared with cortisone injections in several published trials, including a double-blinded randomized controlled trial in which a single PRP injection into the space above the tendon produced significantly superior and sustained pain and functional improvement compared with a single corticosteroid injection at one-year follow-up (Rossi et al., Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 2024).
In our clinic, we use detailed physical exams and diagnostic ultrasound to map which parts of the rotator cuff and surrounding structures are involved. For people who want to avoid more steroids and protect tendon tissue, we are more likely to discuss PRP combined with a strength-focused rehabilitation plan.
Does PRP Work Better Than Cortisone for Spine Pain?
The honest answer for spine-related pain depends on the pain source, though PRP-based protocols are typically the better fit when the goal is lasting improvement rather than short-term flare control. Spine-related pain (low back, neck, sacroiliac joints) is more complex because pain can come from the discs that cushion your vertebrae, the small facet joints that guide motion along the back of your spine, the sacroiliac (SI) joints where your pelvis meets your lower spine, and the surrounding ligaments and nerves. Often, more than one structure is involved at the same time.
Steroid injections (for example, epidural or facet joint injections) are often used to control severe pain or acute flares. They can be appropriate in selected scenarios, but we still view them as short-term tools.
PRP and other orthobiologic injections are being studied for disc, facet, SI joint, and ligament conditions. The research is active, and early findings are promising, particularly for sacroiliac joint instability, facet-related pain, and disc-related (discogenic) low back pain, where a multicenter randomized controlled trial suggests intradiscal PRP and bone marrow concentrate outperform placebo (Navani et al., Pain Physician, 2024). This is an area where a precise tissue-level diagnosis is especially important because treating the wrong structure is the most common reason any injection fails.
Read more about PRP injections for SI joint pain in Mesa, AZ.
Is PRP Safer Than Cortisone for Long-Term Joint Health?
For long-term joint health, PRP does not carry the structural concerns that come with repeated cortisone. The most serious cortisone risks build with repeated use over months to years; with PRP, what most patients deal with is a few days of soreness and swelling after the injection.
Cortisone side effects. Common short-term effects include a temporary increase in pain, facial flushing, and temporary blood sugar changes in some people. Rare but serious risks include infection, significant bleeding, and allergic reactions. Longer-term concerns with repeated injections in the same area include potential cartilage loss in joints, potential weakening of tendons or ligaments, and cumulative systemic steroid exposure.
PRP side effects. Common short-term effects include soreness, swelling, or aching at the injection site for several days, and an occasional pain flare before improvement. Because PRP is made from your own blood, it avoids many concerns tied to donor products or systemic steroid medication. Serious complications like infection, major bleeding, or nerve injury are uncommon but must be openly discussed before any procedure.
At our clinic, we reduce risk by using strict sterile technique, ultrasound and/or fluoroscopy guidance for precise placement, and taking a detailed history and exam before recommending any procedure.
In our patient outcome registry, among the cases with completed safety follow-up, zero severe treatment-related adverse events have been reported, in registry data collected over more than 5 years.
Why We Do Not Lead with Steroids (Our Philosophy)
Regenerative Performance does not lead with steroid injections because our clinical philosophy is to support the body's own ability to heal itself, rather than to suppress inflammation and simply mask pain. That is the real reason we do not lead with steroids, not billing or preference.
If your priority is to avoid more cortisone, understand your pain at a tissue level, and consider options like PRP and other orthobiologic procedures as part of a long-term plan, our model is designed for you.
How Do We Decide Whether PRP Is Right for You?
Most patients who come to Regenerative Performance are not weighing PRP against cortisone. They come because cortisone has failed them, or because they want to avoid steroids altogether. Our job is to determine whether PRP, another regenerative option, or something else entirely is the right plan, through a precise diagnosis, a treatment-history review, and a goals conversation. We start with three things.
Precise diagnosis. A detailed history, hands-on tissue-level exam, and imaging. When appropriate, diagnostic blocks to confirm the pain source. This is a 2-hour process, not a 7-minute appointment.
What you have already tried. Physical therapy, exercise, medications, previous injections, surgeries. Your treatment history shapes the plan.
Your goals and constraints. Avoiding or delaying surgery. Activity goals and lifestyle. Budget and willingness to invest out of pocket.
Then we explain PRP and other regenerative options, how we dose and guide them, and how they fit with a strength, movement, and lifestyle plan.
Once we know what is actually causing your pain, the right treatment plan usually becomes clear. Schedule a 2-hour evaluation at our Gilbert, AZ clinic to get there.
What to Expect at Our Gilbert, AZ PRP Clinic
Regenerative Performance is located in Gilbert, AZ, serving patients across Chandler, Mesa, and the greater Phoenix area. The PRP process follows the same four steps for every patient.
The 2-Hour Evaluation
Every new patient starts with a detailed 2-hour evaluation that includes a thorough history, a hands-on tissue-level physical exam, and diagnostic ultrasound when indicated. When appropriate, we use diagnostic blocks to help confirm the pain source, rather than assuming which structures are generating your pain.
The purpose of this evaluation is to identify the specific tissues causing your pain, because a precise, tissue-level diagnosis is the single most important factor in whether a regenerative treatment works.
Individualized Treatment Plan
Based on the evaluation, we determine whether you are a candidate for PRP or another regenerative approach such as autologous stem cell therapy, taking into account what you have already tried (physical therapy, exercise, medications, previous injections, or surgeries) along with your goals and constraints. From there, we develop an orthobiologic plan specific to your case, including which structures will be treated and how the plan fits with a strength, movement, and lifestyle program.
In our experience, the first three months after treatment tend to be the window where most improvement occurs, so we typically recommend supplements and peptides during that period to help support your body's response.
Ultrasound- and/or Fluoroscopy-Guided PRP Injection
On your treatment day, we draw 120 to 300 mL of your blood, depending on how many structures we are treating. We analyze the PRP to confirm platelet concentration, and twilight sedation with a dedicated anesthesia provider is available for patients who are nervous about the procedure.
Using ultrasound and/or fluoroscopy (X-ray) guidance, we inject PRP into each structure that is actually painful, which can include the joint, ligaments, or tendons and around any irritated nerves, rather than placing a single injection into the joint space alone.
Recovery and Follow-Up
After your injection, we recommend resting for the remainder of that day. From there, your activity level is guided by how you respond, and we discuss any restrictions specific to the structures treated. For most patients, we refer to a physical therapist who designs a rehabilitation plan specific to your treatment and goals.
In our clinic, most patients begin to notice changes within 4 weeks, with most of the improvement occurring over the first 3 months. Individual results may vary.
We track your progress using our outcome registry, giving both you and our team objective data on how your treatment is working.
Understand what is driving your pain and start the process. Schedule your 2-hour evaluation for chronic joint, tendon, or spine pain at our Gilbert, AZ clinic.
Who Is a Good Candidate for PRP (Instead of Cortisone) in Gilbert, AZ?
PRP is typically a good fit for adults with chronic joint, tendon, nerve, or spine pain that has not responded to physical therapy, medications, or cortisone injections, and who want a non-surgical, non-steroid option. Our 2-hour evaluation is designed to confirm this for your specific situation.
If you see yourself in the list below, PRP may be worth exploring.
- Have chronic joint, tendon, nerve, or spine pain lasting 3 or more months
- Have tried conservative care (physical therapy, chiropractic, massage, medications) without lasting improvement
- Have had cortisone injections that helped temporarily but wore off
- Are looking for a non-surgical option before committing to surgery, or want to avoid surgery altogether
- Want structure-specific treatment targeting your exact joints, ligaments, tendons, or nerves
- Are willing to invest in your health, as these are cash-pay procedures
- Want to understand what is actually causing your pain, not just mask it
During your first visit, we assess whether PRP or another regenerative injection approach is appropriate for your specific case, or whether continued conservative care or a different option would serve you better.
Schedule a 2-hour evaluation for your chronic joint, tendon, or spine pain at our Gilbert, AZ clinic.
If you are unsure whether orthobiologic injections like PRP or stem cell therapy are appropriate, or you are traveling from outside the Phoenix area, you can also call and ask about a brief 15 minute discovery call.
Frequently Asked Questions About PRP vs Cortisone Injections
If cortisone helped me before, should I just keep getting cortisone?
If a past cortisone injection gave you months of relief and you rarely need them, another may be reasonable in some settings. But if relief is now short-lived or you need injections every few months, it is usually a sign to step back and look at other options instead of repeating the same cycle.
Can I get PRP after having cortisone injections?
PRP injections can generally be given after prior cortisone injections, and many people who choose PRP have had one or more steroid injections in the past. Before planning PRP, your clinician should review how many injections you have had, how recently they were done, and where they were placed, along with your overall health. A recent cortisone injection in the same area may require a waiting period before PRP to avoid the steroid interfering with the biologic response.
Can PRP and cortisone be used together at the same time?
Steroid and PRP are generally not injected into the same area at the same time, because the steroid could counteract some of PRP's intended biologic effects. In some care plans, different tools may be used at different times or in different anatomical locations, but those decisions are made on a case-by-case basis after a thorough evaluation.
How much blood is drawn for a PRP injection?
Blood draw volumes for PRP vary widely between clinics. Many clinics draw 60 mL or less, while clinics that measure platelet dose and target a therapeutic threshold often draw more, in some cases 120 to 300 mL, because a larger starting volume makes it possible to reach a higher total platelet dose more reliably.
Does the platelet dose matter for PRP results?
Platelet dose is one of the most important variables in PRP results. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis identified a dose-response relationship for PRP in knee osteoarthritis, pinpointing an optimal threshold above 10 billion platelets for favorable clinical outcomes (Berrigan et al., Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine, 2024). Because PRP that looks the same in the syringe can vary dramatically in therapeutic dose, a preparation should be analyzed to confirm platelet concentration rather than guessed at.
Which injection hurts more, PRP or cortisone?
PRP often causes more soreness in the days after the injection than cortisone does, because it is intentionally stimulating a biologic response. Local anesthetics and careful technique keep procedures as tolerable as possible. Twilight sedation with a dedicated anesthesia provider is also available as an option for patients who are nervous about the procedure.
Is PRP for joint pain covered by insurance in Arizona?
PRP injections are typically not covered by insurance. PRP is an off-label use of FDA-cleared devices rather than an FDA-approved treatment, which is one reason insurers do not cover it. Most clinics who offer PRP injections operate on a cash-pay, out-of-network model.
How long can PRP results for joint pain last?
For knee osteoarthritis, many patients report meaningful PRP improvement lasting 6 to 12 months or longer, though outcomes depend on the condition, severity, dose and placement, and follow-through with rehabilitation. Some patients maintain their results well beyond a year, particularly when they stay consistent with strength training and movement. Individual results may vary.
Still have questions? The best way to get answers is a conversation. Call 480-508-4226.
About Dr. Timmermans
Dr. Drew Timmermans, ND, RMSK
Dr. Drew Timmermans, ND, RMSK, is a naturopathic physician and registered musculoskeletal sonographer (RMSK) specializing in precision-guided orthobiologic injections for chronic musculoskeletal pain. He founded Regenerative Performance in Gilbert, AZ, where every new patient receives an in-depth 2-hour evaluation with hands-on, tissue-level diagnosis using diagnostic ultrasound.
Dr. Timmermans performs all injections under ultrasound or fluoroscopy guidance and measures PRP platelet concentration for every preparation rather than estimating dose. His approach centers on identifying the exact anatomical structures generating pain before recommending any procedure.
References
- McAlindon TE, LaValley MP, Harvey WF, Price LL, Driban JB, Zhang M, Ward RJ. Effect of Intra-articular Triamcinolone vs Saline on Knee Cartilage Volume and Pain in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2017;317(19):1967-1975. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2017.5283.
- Elksniņš-Finogejevs A, Vidal L, Peredistijs A. Intra-articular platelet-rich plasma vs corticosteroids in the treatment of moderate knee osteoarthritis: a single-center prospective randomized controlled study with a 1-year follow up. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research. 2020;15(1). DOI: 10.1186/s13018-020-01753-z.
- Berrigan WA, Tao MA, Kopcow J, Park A, Allen J, Tahir P, Reddy A, Bailowitz Z. The Effect of Platelet Dose on Outcomes after Platelet Rich Plasma Injections for Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. 2024;17(12):570-588. DOI: 10.1007/s12178-024-09922-x.
- Rossi LA, Brandariz R, Gorodischer T, Camino P, Piuzzi NS, Tanoira I. Subacromial injection of platelet-rich plasma provides greater improvement in pain and functional outcomes compared to corticosteroids at 1-year follow-up: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2024;33(12):2563-2571. DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2024.06.012.
- Navani A, Ambach M, Calodney A, Rosenthal R, Li G, Mahoney CB, Everts PA. The Safety and Effectiveness of Orthobiologic Injections for Discogenic Chronic Low Back Pain: A Multicenter Prospective, Crossover, Randomized Controlled Trial with 12 Months Follow-up. Pain Physician. 2024;27(1):E65-E77. DOI: 10.36076/ppj.2024.27.e65.
NOTE: This article provides general information to help the reader better understand regenerative medicine, nerve and musculoskeletal conditions, naturopathic approaches to pain, and related subjects. All content provided in this article, website, or any linked materials, including text, graphics, images, research, and outcomes, are not intended, and should not be used, as a substitute for direct medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please always consult with a professional and licensed healthcare provider to discuss if any treatment is right for you.
Registry data from our single practice, powered by DataBiologics, is not a randomized clinical trial. Individual results may vary.